For its 22nd year, Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) went online this weekend to celebrate the best and the biggest musical acts in Asia. While most awards are given to Korean artists in different categories, the awards show also caters to other Asian acts from countries like Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand.
This year, because of the pandemic, MAMA was held online under the concept of “NEW-TOPIA” and was hosted by none other than actor Song Joong-ki.
While there are so many things that happened during the awards night, we've rounded up 22 moments that made this year's MAMA just as memorable as the previous ones.
'Descendants of the Sun' actor Song Joong-ki opens up the virtual award show, which has no in-person audience.
We couldn't think of a better pairing than Jessi and Hwasa to start the show as they perform 'Nunu Nana' and 'Maria,' respectively. Jessi also took home the Favorite Dance Performance for a Female Solo, while Hwasa took home Best Dance Performance for a Solo Act.
K-pop boy group TREASURE takes home the Best New Male Artist award while Weeekly reigns supreme in the Best New Female Artist award category. TREASURE debuted earlier this year with their single 'Boy' in August, while Weeekly released their EP 'We Are in June' last October.
In the latter part of the awards show, TREASURE performed a medley of their songs they released this year since their debut in August.
Boy group ENHYPHEN makes a charismatic MAMA debut by performing their single 'Given-Taken.' We were all floored as pro-skater-turned-K-pop idol Sunghoon introduced the performance by gliding in the MAMA stage.
We couldn't be any prouder of K-pop boy group BTS as they sweep away not only one but eight awards, namely Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Worldwide Fans' Choice, Album of the Year, Best Music Video, Best Dance Performance by a Male Group, Best Male Group, and Worldwide Icon of the Year. ARMYs are definitely proud of their boys!
Starship Entertainment represent! MONSTA X and Cravity took turns performing in the MAMA stage during their segment. Cravity performed 'Heaven x Hell' and performed MONSTA X's songs 'Dramarama' and 'Shoot Out.' Meanwhile, MONSTA X performed 'Beast Mode' and their latest single, 'Love Killa.'
During the awards, Cravity won the Best of Next Award while MONSTA X took home Best Stage. Well deserved!
Korean boy band DAY6 was presented with Best Band Performance for their song 'Zombie.'
K-pop girl groups Oh My Girl and (G)I-DLE did a cover of miss A's 2010 hit song 'Bad Girl Good Girl.'
You were also captivated by what happens in between the awards -- the very stylish cleaning girl making sure that none of our favorite K-pop idols gets the coronavirus!
MAMAMOO arrived on the stage with their harmonizing intro. In the end, they took home the Best Vocal Performance award and Worldwide Fans' Choice during MAMA 2020. Also, a huge shoutout to MAMAMOO leader Solar for saying “mahal kita” to all Filipino fans.
Later on, they appeared on stage in their most intricate pieces as they perform an Agrabah version of their singles 'Aya' and 'Dingga.'
Probably one of the most powerful stage during the MAMA concert. ATEEZ, The Boyz, and Stray Kids take turns performing their own songs and coming together at the end for a special collaboration. It was revealed in the MAMA stage that the three are set to appear on 'Kingdom,' a follow-up to last year's widely popular show 'Queendom.'
ATEEZ also won a handful of awards, including Discovery of the Year and Worldwide Fans' Choice.
Singer IU took home three awards as Best Vocal Performance Solo, Best Female Artist Award, and Best Collaboration. During her acceptance video, she thanked BTS member Suga for collaborating with her in her single 'Eight.'
During the event, 10 K-pop groups were handed a trophy for Worldwide Fans' Choice. The list includes BTS, BLACKPINK, TWICE, MAMAMOO, SEVENTEEN, ATEEZ, GOT7, TXT, TREASURE, and NCT.
Leave it to Tomorrow X Together, aka TXT, to cover their label mates' single 'Dynamite' alongside other disco-inspired songs during their stage performance.
K-pop girl group IZ*One appeared on stage to perform a medley of their singles including 'La Vie En Rose,' 'Violeta,' 'Fiesta,' and ended their stage with the first-ever performance of their latest single 'Panorama.'
The group also took home Favorite Female Group during the awards night.
Boy group SEVENTEEN took home the Notable Achievement Artist Award and Global Favorite Performer for their immense artistry and creativity as performers. They also returned to the stage to perform a bright medley of their songs 'Left & Right' and 'Home Run.'
GOT7 puts on quite a show for Ahgases watching as they perform a medley of their songs 'Not By The Moon' and 'Last Piece.'
Leave it to NCT sub-unit WayV to take home the Favorite Asian Artist Award, making them the first sub-unit to win at the 2020 MAMA. Meanwhile, NCT won the Favorite Male Group during the event.
Later on, they also performed their hits, including 'Turn Back Time,' 'Ridin,' and their dramatic first performance of the 23-member song 'Resonance.'
JYP Entertainment girl group TWICE looked like beautiful goddesses on the MAMA stage as they perform their hits 'More & More,' 'I Can't Stop Me,' and 'Cry For Me.' The group also took home Most Popular Artist at the end of the awards night.
By the last hour, several female acts performed the songs of K-pop idol Boa including Aespa's Winter, (G)I-DLE, YooA of Oh My Girl, and IZ*One.
BoA then arrived on stage with SHINee's Taemin to dance 'Only One' together. She then performed her new single, 'Better.' Following her performance, BoA was awarded the Inspired Achievement Award for her 20-year-long career in the K-pop industry.
To close the night, K-pop boy group BTS performed their biggest songs, namely 'ON,' 'Dynamite,' and 'Life Goes On' to cap off the night.